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Dav4122

73 posts

Master Geek


#130771 27-Sep-2013 12:18
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Has anyone else signed up for or gotten set up with the Vector Solar panel trial for residential customers in Auckland? Doesn't matter who your power company is as Vector is a lines company.

I have just signed off on the paperwork to have it installed at my west Auckland home in early November.


Does anyone already have it, and if so how is it going? 
Or do you have your own solar panels, and how is that going?

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Dav4122

73 posts

Master Geek


  #1026339 16-Apr-2014 17:53
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Thought I would give a quick update on how having (Vector) solar panels have been

On my meridian power bill over the past 6 months I have exported back (reduced my power bill)
Oct - $32.90
Nov - $33.35
Dec - $22.42
Jan - $6.08
Feb - $35.52
Mar - $12.98

Now bearing in mind that I pay $70 to Vector each month ontop of my bill this doesn't look great so far...
But my normal day to day electricity usage has dropped as we use power off the battery for most of our always on circuits (like water pump, lights, fridge)

Side note: If you do upgrade to an export meter don't just say you want an export meter (i.e. the stupid has to be read by a person type) ask for one of the smart export meters that calls in an actual reading itself each month. Our estimated readings have been Wildly off with our actual usage because they are using our pre-solar readings and the actual readings of other homes (who don't use solar) in our area to generate these estimates - Its a small thing but having to take your own reading and send it in every second month is a chore I'd rather you avoid

So as a purely economic prospect Solar doesn't break even for my place with our power usage


However when there is a power cut (seems like fortnightly in my part of west Auckland) I enjoy having the lights on and surfing the web while my neighbours walk around with flashlights. Don't have to reset the microwave clock either!

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